Neither Paula nor I are desert people, but here we are in a godforsaken desert interrupted by yucca plants with delusions of grandeur.

Joshua Tree National Park is packed. The roads, trails, and parking lots are close to Yosemite-busy. Many of the visitors seem to be European, perhaps looking for a foretaste of what global warming will do to Southern Europe.

Anyhow, here are my attempts to find a few shards of beauty in a desolate and unsympathetic landscape.

Can you spot the rock climber?

Lizards. Lizards are cool.

A cactus about to bloom, and what may be the only flower in the entire national park.

Plant. Whatever.

Tree growing out of a cliff face.

Phainopepla, a bird so obscure that my spell checker does not believe in it.

Crappy WiFi at the hotel so that all you’re getting tonight folks.